Diaphragm pump for automatic water systems



June 8,1937. H. M. LOEBER 2,083,073

DIAPHRAGM PUMP FOR AUTOMATIC WATER SYSTEMS Filed Nov. s, 19:55 aSheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l

' H. M. Loeber .wnwi

June 8, 1937. H. M; LOEBER DIAPHRAGM PUMP FOR AUTOMATIC WATER SYSTEMS 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV:- 3, 19 553 r Wm WW 0 Wm H w v P0 525: QM m-June 8, 1937. v LQEBER DIATHRAGM PUMP FOR AUTOMATIC WATER SYSTEMS FiledNov. 5, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 H. M; Loebef Patented June 8, 1937 UNITEDSTATES nmnaacu PUMP roa AUTOMATIC warren srs-rams Herman M. Loeber,Beatrice, Nebn, assignor to Dempster Mill Manufacturing Company, acorporation oi Nebraska Application November 3, 1933, Serial No. 696,527

'lClaims.

My invention relates to diaphragm pumps, its primary object being theprovision of a pump which is especially adapted for use in automaticwater systems.

Another object of the invention is the provision' of a double actingdiaphragm pump so designed that each stroke of the, plunger is both asuction stroke and a discharge stroke.

One of the important objects of the invention is the provision of easilyaccessible securing means for the diaphragms of a diaphragm pump for theeasy removal and replacement of the diaphragm without disassembling thepump.

' Another object is the provision of means for preventing contactbetween the lubricant and the water.

Another object is the provision of a novel diaphragm having long lifeand not readily subject to scufllng, abrasion or puncturing effects.

v Having in view these objects and others which will be pointed out inthe following description, I will now refer to the drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a plan viewof the pump block after the valve cover or bonnethas been removed therefrom.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the entire pump, the sectionbeing taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows and being slightly offset in its lower portion, the partitionin the valve cover being partly torn away to disclose a portion of therear chamber. 1 a

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure l with a slightoffset in its lower portion.

Figure 4 is a view in half elevation and half vertical section ontheline 6-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section showing particularly theactuating mechanism of the pump in its relation to the diaphragmarrangement.

Figure 6 is a perspective view partly in section 'as seen when lookingdown upon the valve plate. The pump is driven through a drive shaft Illhaving an eccentric pin H at its extremity for l5 and I8. Reciprocatingmovement of the plunger l2 will thus cause the movement back i and forthof the two diaphragms.

The pump block I1 is mounted on a base I8 having a lubricant receptaclel9 inits bottom 5 portion. The pump block is provided with a more orless cylindrical chamber whose axis is substantially that of the plungerl2. As subsequently to be described this cylindrical chamber is blockedoff at both of its ends to provide two 10 water chambers whichcommunicate directly with two chambers 20 and 2| through passageways 22.As shown in Figure 1, the chambers 20 and 2| do not communicate directlywith each other. In explanation of Figure 1, a web is pro- 15 vided inthe exposed face of the pump block merely for the purpose ofadditionally supporting the valve plate. The web is of shallow depth andit does not divide either the chamber 20 or the chamber 2! nor does itinterfere in any way 20 with the functioning of those chambers. Thecylindrical chamber is closed at both of its ends by means of heads 23which are secured-by any suitable clamping device such as the crabs 23"as best shown in Figure 5. The heads 23 are 25 tightly clamped againstthe end walls of the pump block with the diaphragms I5 and i6 clampedbetween the heads and the end surfaces of the pump block. Projectingfrom opposite ends of the plunger l2 are screw-threaded spin- 3 diespassing through the diaphragms each with a pair of oppositely disheddiscs '24 for the purpose of minimizing abrasive friction on thediaphragms. The pump block is also provided with telltale holes 25 forindicating leakage through 35 the respective diaphragms.

The valve plate 26 is best shown in Figure 6.

I This plate supports two intake valves 21 and 28 and two dischargevalves 29 and 30. Thus the chamber 2|) communicates with the intakevalve 40 21 and the discharge valve 29 while the chamber 2| communicateswith the intake valve 28 and the discharge valve 30. The intake for thepump is shown at 3|, the water flow'ing through the passageway 32 to theuppersurface of the valve 45 plate 26 from whence it may flow downthrough the intake valve 21 or the intake valve 28' depending upon thepositions of the diaphragms. In other words, the water will flow intoeither the chamber 20 or the chamber 2|.

The valve cover or bonnet 33 rests on the valve plate 26 to which it issecured by means of a bolt 34 or other suitablefastening device passingthrough the valve cover 33 and the valve 65 plate 2 iandei nto the pumpblock IT. The valve cover ,gdiyiidgdginto two chambers which are 'tothechambers 20 and 2i. One of transverse these chambers encloses theintake valves 21 5 and 28 while the other chamber encloses the dischargevalves 29 and 30. The flow through the intake valve 21 into the chamber20 may continue only through the discharge valve 23 while the flowthrough the intake valve 28 will continue through. the chamber 2| andthrough the discharge .valve 30. In either case the flow will continuethrough the discharge port 35 and thence through the discharge pipe 36.

' In the Figure 2 position the diaphragm I5 is inits suction strokewhile the diaphragm I3 is in its discharge stroke. Referring now moreparticularly to Figure .6, it will be seen that water entering throughthe pipe3| and intake port 32 will pass through the intake valve 21 andinto the chamber between the diaphragm l5 and head 23. The movementbeing a suction movement, the valve 21 will be open while the valve '28is closed. The diaphragm l6, however, is in its discharge stroke andthis forces the water 25 through the passage 22 into the chamber 2|. Thewater pressure will'keep the valve 28 tightly closed and the water cantherefore pass up only through the discharge valve 30 at the oppositeend of the chamber 2| and from thence it passes 30 downwardly throughthe discharge port and outwardly through the discharge pipe 36. On theopposite stroke of the plunger I2 the water entering through the intakeport 32 will pass downwardly through the intake valve 28 and into 35 thechamberbetween the diaphragm l6 and the head 23. During this movementthe discharge valve 30 is kept closed because of the suction created bythe diaphragm l6. At the same time the diaphragm I5 is moving in itsdischarge stroke and it forces the water into the chamber 20 and outthrough the discharge valve 28 from whence it passes through thedischarge port 35 and the discharge pipe 36. The steps are thuscontinuous due to the fact that the pump is double acting and that ithas two diaphragms which are alternating in their suction and dischargestrokes.

It is desirable that water entering through the intake portz32 bescreened before it enters the pump. For this reason I provide a screen31 for removing any solid matters which might interfere with the actionof the various valves.

The drive shaft III has an elongated bearing 38 as shown in Figure 4.The shaft is provided with a grooved end portion 39 for carrying a.chain 40. This .chain dips into the lubricant of the lubricant containerl9 and carries the lubricant to the bearing 38 and to the plunger I2 andits sliding block I3. Since a slight puncture in 60 either diaphragm I 5or iii may cause water to enter the lubricant chamber I 9 or since thelubricant might enter the water chamber in a suction stroke, it isadvisable to block of! the water passages from the lubricant by means 65which will be effective in case of the puncturing of one of thediaphragms. For this purpose I provide a second pair of diaphragms 4|which are positioned inwardly from the diaphragms I5 and IS. The pumpblock is provided with a 7 pair of circular grooves for receivingresilient wire rings 42. It is thus only necessary to place thediaphragms 4| in position and to snap the rings 42 into position totightly hold these diaphragms. The puncturing of one or the other of thediaphragms is readily indicated by the devices for accomplishing theresult.

leakage through one or the other of the telltale holes 25 but theintermingling of the oil and water is prevented by the use of thesupplemental diaphragm 4l. It is to be understood, however, that othermeans may be employed for blocking off the water and oil, thesupplemental diaphragm merely showing one of my preferred In case of thepuncturing of one or the other of the diaphragms it is only necessary toremove the crab and head at that end of the pump block and to replacethe punctured diaphragm. The diaphragms must be waterproof and they mustbe resistant to the abrasion to which they are subjected from fineparticles of sand passing through the pump and they must be resistant tothe scufilng effects resulting from their movements. A material which Ihave found which meets the requirements is a fabric treated with aphenolic resinoid compound.

Attention is called particularly to the positions of the diaphragms andto the crabs 23 which hold the heads 23 tightly pressed against the endsof the pump block with the diaphragms clamped between the heads 23 andend surfaces of the pump block. The position is such that when adiaphragm must be replaced, the pump must be stopped for only a fewminutes while the crab and the head are removed to afford easy access tothe diaphragm which is first removed and then replaced by a newdiaphragm. The trickling of the water from one of the two telltale holes25 indicates the .puncturing of one or the other of the diaphragms andit also indicates which of the two diaphragms must be replaced. The useof the supplemental diaphragm is also very important since the interiorchamber of the pump block contains lubricant which must not be permittedto come into contact with the water which is being pumped. Nor must thewater be permitted to come into contact with the lubricant as suchcontact would not only introduce water into the oil but it would taintthe water which.

is being pumped. The supplemental diaphragms are also easily accessibleby the simple removal of the heads 23. After access is obtained to thesupplemental diaphragms they are very easily removed owing to thesimplicity of the resilient rings 42 which readily snap into or out ofposition.

Having thus described my invention in such full, clear, and exact termsthat its construction and operation will be readily understood by othersskilled in the art to which it pertains, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a diaphragm pump for water systems, a hollow pump block having anopening, a diaphragm secured on the end of said pump block and closingthe opening thereof, a reciprocating plunger within the hollow portionof said pump block, said plunger being secured at its outer extremity'tosaid diaphragm for the actuation thereof, and a second diaphragm securedto and surrounding said plunger and secured at its edge to' said pumpblock, said pump block being provided with a telltale hole between saidtwo diaphragms for indicating leakage through said first nameddiaphragm.

2. In a diaphragm pump for water systems, a hollow pump block, areciprocating plunger within the hollow portion of said pump block, apumping diaphragm and a supplemental diaphragm secured in spaced apartrelation to said plunger, said diaphragms being secured at their edgesto said pump block, said pump block being provided with a telltale holebetween said two diaphragms to indicate leakage through said pumpingdiaphragm.

3. In a diaphragm pump, a pump block having a chamber with a mouth atthe end of said pump block, a diaphragm seated at its edges against saidpump block to close the mouth of the chamber thereof, a head having aconcave surface, said head being seated at its edges against saiddiaphragm to define a pumping chamber therebetween, means for clampingsaidhead to said pump block, reciprocating means for alternatelyexpanding and contracting said pumping chamber, an inlet chamber havingan inlet conduit,

a discharge chamber having a discharge conduit, a one way conduit forconducting water from said inlet chamberv to said pumping chamber, a oneway conduit for conducting water from said pumping chamber to saiddischarge chamber, a valve plate located adjacent to said inlet anddischarge chambers, intake and discharge valves in said plate andcommunicating with said pumping chamber, an intake conduit forconducting water through said valve plate and through said intake valveand into said pumping chamber while said pumping chamber is expanding,

a hollow cover fitted against said valve plate and having a septumpositioned between said intake valve and said discharge valve, and adischarge conduit associated with said discharge valve whereby thecontraction stroke of said pumping chamber will force the watertherefrom through said discharge valve and out through said dischargeconduit. a

4. In a diaphragm'pump, a hollow pump block, a flexible diaphragm seatedacross the end of said pump block and closing the opening thereof,

second water chamber, a valve for admitting.

water from said third water chamber to said second water chamber. afourth water chamber communicating with said second water chamber, a,valve for admitting water from said second water chamber to said fourthwater chamber, said two valves. being automatically operable inalternation in response to the reciprocatory movements of saiddiaphragm, an intake conduit for said third water chamber, a dischargeconduit for said fourth water chamber, and reciprocating means withinsaid pump block for actuating said diaphragm.

5. A pump comprising a casing, a pumping chamber in the casing, alubricant chamber in the casing, a slide member in the lubricant chamberhaving an end projecting into the pumping chamber, a diaphragm in thepumping chamber secured to the projecting end of the slide member, meanswholly within the lubricant chamber for slidably mounting the slidemember therein, means disposed in spaced relation to the diaphragm andengaging the slide member for cutting off communication between thelubricant chamber and the pumping chamber, said casing having an openingto the atmosphere between said diaphragm and said means cutting oficommunication between said chambers, and operating means for the slidemember.

6. A pump comprising a casing, a pumping chamber in the casing, alubricant chamber in the casing, a slide member in the lubricant chamberhaving an end projecting into the pumping chamber, a diaphragm in thepumping chamber secured to the projecting end of the slide member, meanswholly within the lubricant chamber for slidably mounting the slidemember therein,

means fixed to the slide member and to the casing for cutting ofl?communication between the lubricant chamber and the pumping chamberwhile permitting movement of the slide member, said casing having anopening to the atmosphere between said diaphragm andv said means cuttingofi communication between said chambers, and operating means fortheslide member.

7. A pump comprising a casing, a pumping chamber in the casing, alubricant chamber in the casing, a slide member in the lubricant chamberhaving an end projecting into the pumpingchamber, a diaphragm in thepumping chamber secured to the projecting end of the slide member, meansin the lubricant chamber for slidably mounting the slide member therein,a second diaphragm secured to the slide member in spaced relation to thefirst diaphragm and secured to the casing for cutting oif communicationbetween the lubricant ehamber and the pumping chamber, said casinghaving an opening to the atmosphere between said diaphragm and saidmeans cutting off communication between said chambers, and operatingmeans for the slide member.

, HERMAN M. LOEBER.

